Relativistic Laser-Plasma Interactions in the Quantum Regime

Abstract: We investigate the nonlinear interaction between a relativistically strong laser beam and a plasma in the quantum regime. The collective behavior of the electrons is modeled by a Klein-Gordon equation, which is nonlinearly coupled with the electromagnetic wave through the Maxwell and Poisson equations. This allows us to study the nonlinear interaction between arbitrarily large amplitude electromagnetic waves and a quantum plasma. We have used our system of nonlinear equations to study theoretically the parametric instabilities involving stimulated Raman scattering and modulational instabilities. A model for quasi-steady state propagating electromagnetic wavepackets is also derived, and which shows the possibility of localized solitary structures in the quantum plasma. Numerical simulations demonstrate the collapse and acceleration of the electrons in the nonlinear stage of the modulational instability, as well as the possibility of wake-field acceleration of the electrons to relativistic speeds by short laser pulses at nanometer length scales. The study has importance for the nonlinear interaction between a super-intense X-ray laser light and a solid-density plasma, where quantum effects are important.